The UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently published the sixth assessment report on the impacts, adaptation and vulnerability...
Sustainable mobility
What is our vision for a better transport system in Malta?
Today, road transport contributes to one-third of the total greenhouse gas emissions in Malta. To stop fueling the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions, as well as the impact of air pollution on public health, road safety concerns and diminishing public space for anyone outside a car, we need to move away from planning only for cars.
Exactly because Malta is small and space is limited, we need to invest in cleaner and leaner modes of transport. The car is the least space-efficient mode of transport of all! The average commute in Malta is only 5.5km, therefore we need to invest in direct, safe, comfortable, attractive and connected infrastructure for walking and cycling so that the choice to go on foot or by bicycle for short trips is easy and obvious.
Friends of the Earth Malta are pushing the government to recognise the need of more socially just transport infrastructure which is safe and pleasant for pedestrians and micromobility users. The public transport services, such as buses and ferries, should be reliable and serve the diverse needs of the public and not the financial whims of private investors. More urban space shall be dedicated to communities rather than to the stowing of private vehicles.
MICROMOBI project
In MICROMOBI project we aim to develop skills and raise awareness on the topic of micromobility, small human or electric powered mobility devices suitable for short urban trips. Increased uptake of micromobility is a key tool to reduce carbon emissions from transport, the main priority we are addressing through this project: to contribute to more environmentally friendly cities and fight against climate change.
The project combines training and skill-sharing activities that enable bottom-up and top-down change in the transition to micromobility: educating the users through micromobility and road safety training, repair cafes to teach skills and contribute to sustainability of materials, and training planners and professionals within organisations and entities to better plan for sustainable mobility, including micromobility, and contribute to improved road safety for vulnerable road users.
Bike About project
The Bike About project (04/2023 – 03/2024) was aimed at increasing the use of bicycles as part of our NGO work, promoting cycling and bicycle use amongst our volunteers, youth group and community, and teaching people the skill of cycling and bicycle repair.
By teaching people how to cycle and how to do so safely (for commuting to school or work) and by showcasing the use of an e-cargo bike to transport goods, we enabled and inspired more people to make the shift to cycling, for some or all of their trips. Cycling is a form of climate action! A reduction in private car use by shifting to cycling contributes to greenhouse gas emission reductions and improved quality of life in the locality and country.
In our commitment to supporting cyclists, we’ve created a bike repair kit available for public use for repairs or to borrow, at the FoEM Green Resource Centre. The kit includes:
– Pump, tube patches and various glues
– A helmet, high visibility vests and bicycle lights
– Multitool and tire levers
– Biodegradable degreaser, cleaner and lubricant
This service is available during office hours and when we have events at our Green Resource Centre in Floriana. Please send us a message via Facebook/Instagram before coming to ensure someone is in the office and able to provide you with the necessary tools.
Outside of our Green Resource Centre in Floriana you can find a secure parking space for your bike.
Climate publications
News
The climate crisis is here: time for a fossil free future for Malta!
Over 10 years ago, Friends of the Earth Malta was actively campaigning for a Climate Bill in Malta, as part...
Friends of the Earth Malta at COP26
Together with activists and organisations from all over the world, Friends of the Earth Malta was in Glasgow to support...
Framing Climate Justice
What is it about? Humans cause climate change. This is an issue that has become a part of everyday life...
The ‘COP26’ UN Climate Change Conference – Why You Should Care
This November marks the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which is to be held in Glasgow. The COP is...
Friends of the Earth wins climate case against Shell.
For the first time in history, a judge has held a corporation liable for causing dangerous climate change. Today, as...
The European Green Deal’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2050
General Background We have lived in a society which, in the past, has been careless of the environment and the...